If you are looking for a great tweens or teens craft, or a craft you can give as a gift, you’ve come to the right place.
I’ve found that the tween and early teen years are the most difficult when it comes to keeping the kids occupied. They can’t be amused by some boxes and coloring pens any more but they aren’t quite at the stage where they are occupied by friends, outside activities boyfriends, girlfriends, and schoolwork – I threw that last one in there rather hopefully!
These mermaid salt scrub bath cubes can be made with different essential oils, according to your preferences or your mood, and they can be stored indefinitely in an airtight container.
They also make fabulous gifts. Fil a jar full of these little beauties, add some funky ribbon and you have the perfect hostess, teacher, thank you, or “just because” present.
We made a double batch. One for us to use, and one to store in a spare jar. This way we have a handy “grab ‘n’ go” gift for those times I completely forget there is a birthday party this weekend and only remember we need a gift 27 minutes before we have to leave.
Links in the ingredients list are to Amazon and I may earn a commission if you purchase items through my link.
Supplies
- 2 cups baking soda
- 1 cup Citric Acid
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 cup of dead sea salts (You can also use Epsom salts)
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 5-7 cubes of clear melt and pour soap
- 10-20 drops ylang-ylang essential oil
- 10-20 drops marjoram essential oil
- 1-2 teaspoons of purple, blue and teal colorant
- 1-2 teaspoons of purple, blue and teal cosmetic glitter
- 1 large mixing bowl
- 4 small mixing bowls
- 1 silicone cube mold
Instructions
Steps 1-5: In a large mixing bowl, add the baking soda, citric acid, salt, and cornstarch.
Whisk all of the dry ingredients together until they are evenly distributed.
Steps 6-9: Melt the coconut oil and add it to the dry mixture, along with the essential oils and whisk in.
You may need to use your hands to break down any lumps and make sure everything is well mixed. If you do, you might want to use gloves if you do not want the concentrated aroma of bath cubes on your hands for the next week.
The mixture is perfect when it holds together and when you press it into your hands and feels like wet sand.
Step 10: Divide the soap mixture evenly between your 4 smaller bowls.
Steps 11-19: Add 1 teaspoon of your purple color and glitter in one bowl and add 2 teaspoons of purple color and glitter into the second bowl.
Yes, you did read that right.
One bowl with one spoon of both glitter and color and one bowl with two teaspoons of each. This gives you two separate shades of purple. If you are feeling really fancy, as our daughter would say, you can carry out the same one teaspoon / two teaspoon trick with the other colors.
However.
If you do try this you’ll have to mix yourself up a slightly bigger batch of soap.
Add 1 teaspoon of your blue color and glitter into the third bowl and 2 teaspoons of teal color and glitter into the last bowl.
Mix well.
If you want a darker color, add an extra teaspoon of color and mix and repeat until you achieve the color you desire. In this case, you will also need to add extra glitter. As a general rule, for every extra spoonful of color, add an extra spoonful of glitter.
Steps 20-21: Heat the soap mixtures and allow them to cool slightly but don’t let them begin to harden. If it does, just microwave it for a few seconds. Mix in well.
Steps 22-24: Layer the mixture into your mold.
We did about 1 tablespoon of each color in each cavity of the mold but you can layer yours however you want, have fun with it!
Fill the molds right to the top and pack down firmly.
Allow the cubes to dry for at least 24-48 hours.
To release the cubes, gently twist like an ice cube tray and when the cube begins to come out, pull gently.
